The annual Reg Cowden Awards were presented recently at an afternoon tea at the Lithgow City Council Chambers on Wednesday, March 28. Fifty people were in attendance at the awards culminating in the announcement of the Junior and Senior annual award winners. This year Council held an afternoon tea in the Council Chambers for the winners and their families to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, which saw the number of attendees increase. Councillor Joe Smith was delighted to announce the winners of the awards. The first award presented was the 2017 encouragement award that went to Emerson Banning and Lucy Green for tennis. Read more: Lithgow tennis junior Lucy Green aces NSW Country Challenge The 2017 Laurie Muir Official of the year went to Lithgow Lazers basketball coach and chair of directors Richard Marjoram. Read more: A full year of basketball ahead for Lithgow The 2017 Bunny Abbott Volunteer of Year award went to Cheryl Rutherford for her work with hockey. Read more: Cheryl gets a call-up to the Netherlands The 2017 Mac Scott Memorial Trophy for All Round Sportsmanship went to Richard Forbes for his sportsmanship in Table Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Pentonque, Darts and Archery. Read more: Fifteen years of life and games after transplant Ryan O’Donnell won the 2017 Whitty Perpetual trophy for his dedication to boxing while Ryan Wells won the 2017 Eric Arnold Memorial Trophy for athletics. Read more: Best wishes for the Pacific School Games in Adelaide Lithgow PCYC to hold boxing gala event Other winners who received their awards at the Australia Day ceremony included the Lithgow High School under 15 girls basketball team, Lithgow Open women’s hockey team, Holly Beecroft, Emily Watts and Roxsanne Van Veen. Read more: Lithgow Australia Day Ceremony announces Sports Awards Lithgow City Council said they wanted to thank major sponsors LJ Hooker Lithgow and the Reg Cowden Memorial Trust.

Other winners who received their awards at the Australia Day ceremony included the Lithgow High School under 15 girls basketball team, Lithgow Open women’s hockey team, Holly Beecroft, Emily Watts and Roxsanne Van Veen.